The Mets have been expected to line up as one of Juan Soto’s primary suitors all winter, and after reaching out to agent Scott Boras on day one of the offseason, owner Steve Cohen is now set for an in-person visit with Soto and his agent in Southern California next week, reports Mike Puma of the New York Post. Of course, the Boras Corporation also represents key free agents like Pete Alonso, Corbin Burnes, Alex Bregman, Blake Snell, Sean Manaea, Yusei Kikuchi and Ha-Seong Kim. Whether Cohen and Boras will discuss any of those names — and whether any of those players will drop in for a sit-down with Cohen as well — remains unclear.
Little needs to be said about the potential fit for Soto in Queens. He’s among the game’s very best players and, as a free agent who’ll play next season at 26, he’s arguably the most coveted free agent since Alex Rodriguez reached the open market at the same age back in 2000. One could argue Shohei Ohtani as well, of course, but Ohtani hit the market at 29 and in the aftermath of an elbow surgery that would keep him off the mound or a full season.
The Mets, meanwhile, have one departing free agent outfielder (center fielder Harrison Bader), another who’s a free agent after next season (Starling Marte) and more than $100MM in free agent salaries coming off the books. Even with a full outfield, the Mets would likely be making a strong push for Soto. No team in MLB has a larger gap between their projected 2025 payroll and their 2024 payroll levels, nor does any team have a larger gap between their projected 2025 payroll and their all-time franchise-record payroll. Beyond that, Cohen is widely known as the wealthiest owner in the league. He’s a lifelong Mets fan who purchased the club as something of a passion project, and he immediately showed a willingness to put forth some of the largest payrolls of any team in major league history. The newly implemented fourth tier of luxury penalization is often colloquially referred to as the “Cohen tax.”
All that said, while an in-person meeting between the two parties is clearly of some significance, it’s not any indicator that there’s major traction toward a deal. Soto has heard from more than a third of the league, with even small-market clubs like the Rays reportedly doing their due diligence. It stands to reason that any club with serious interest is going to have an ownership meeting with Soto and Boras.
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner reportedly had a private meeting with Soto over the summer. The Dodgers, Giants, Blue Jays Nationals and others have all been mentioned as potential landing spots. Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com paints a reunion between Soto and his original organization as something of a long shot, but the Nats will presumably at least be on the periphery. Soto is such an uncommon free agent archetype that teams who’d normally never play for a free agent of this caliber could well throw their proverbial hats into the ring. A quick and decisive free agent process that’s resolved in mid-November feels quite unlikely.
For the Mets, Yankees and other serious bidders, however, getting an early feel for the market will be paramount. So much of any team’s offseason budget would be allocated to a Soto signing that his landing place — regardless of where it is — will have an immediate ripple effect on where those offseason dollars are spent. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if other owners, presidents of baseball operations, general managers, etc. traveled to meet with Soto and Boras in the next week or two, as the Boras Corporation feels out the early stages of interest and sets expectations for what most onlookers expect to be a historic contract — one that could set new standards in terms of net present value and average annual value (when factoring in for the deferrals on Ohtani’s contract).
And, as far as comparing Soto’s free agency to that of Ohtani, Boras unsurprisingly dismissed any such comparisons at this week’s GM Meetings and sought to put Soto in a tier unto himself. Via Puma, Boras had this to say about the comparison:
“I don’t think Ohtani has much to do with Juan Soto at all. It’s not something we discuss or consider. Juan Soto is in an age category that separates him from all. So comparability is not when you do these things for these young players.”
rct
Let the games begin!
Acoss1331
Probably the most serious bidder in the market for Soto. Would not be surprised if Cohen beats Hal in a bidding war for Soto.
Holee Cow!
Most people hope so. But the reality is that Steinbrenner is a businessman and he is most likely to match whatever is offered just because of the revenue he makes off Soto in New York.
larkraxm
That’s it Cow. Soto is an investment, not an expense. Soto might “choose” another team, but it won’t be because the Yankees were “outbid”.
Miken31
You can’t match any offer when someone else has more money than you. Eventually, it becomes too much.
Miken31
Except if another owner has more money than him, the other owner can just keep going higher and higher until Hal can’t.
Carter86
Cohen is a wealthier business man so what’s your point?
CarolinaCubsandKush
Agreed. Cohen let the Yankees sign Judge. I doubt Cohen lets another all time great sign with them the next season. Not on his Rolex.
Anthony maresca
Surprised??? I’m a Yankee fan and I promise you Cohen’s bid is going to be at least $100-150 million higher than Steinbrenner. Boras is going to play Cohen like a fiddle and shatter Ohtani’s $700 million pact albeit more years with zero deferred money!
larkraxm
You all act like the Yankees are the Brewers. Soto is an investment, not an expense. No matter what his final deal is, he will generate more in revenue for his team. When Hal wanted Cole, the Yankees signed Cole. When Hal wanted Judge, Hal got Judge. If the Yankees want Soto, and Soto wants to be a Yankee, then money will not be an issue no matter how much it is.
gbs42
Anthony, how can you back up a promise like that? Or even prove you’re right or wrong?
Chris from NJ
Does 10-650 get it done?
CardsFan57
In .000001 seconds.
Captainmike1
In this insane world it probably would
It also disgusts me
Blue Baron
Captainmike1: Why? You’re not paying.
Compo
lol of course it does but nobody is paying 65 million a year for 10 years to sign him. i dont care how young he is.
Ma4170
I know the 700m figure was thriwn out by boras, but thats a pipe dream imo. If he gets 500-550 (no money deferred) w an opt out after three years, he should jump on it.
Hyatt Visa
BORE ASS!!!!!!
CardsFan57
The net present value Ohtani signed was $46 million AAV. I don’t see Soto being paid more AAV than Ohtani.
Blue Baron
“BORE ASS”
What an amazingly dumb, juvenile post. How old are you Hyatt, 12?
metsin4
More like 15/650.
StudWinfield
I’d say he wants $47 mill per. So 13/$611.
Anthony maresca
Yes but not from Steinbrenner
Buffett
Welcome to the Mets Soto
CardsFan57
I see Soto staying in NYC. I can’t predict which borough
Lefty_Orioles_Fan
One of the Five Familes will get him
Don Coreleone will make an offer he can’t refuse
Blackpink in the area
I think the Mets have a shot but they are gonna have to beat the Yankees offer by a nice margin. The Yankees are a historic franchise and the Mets are not.
Captainmike1
Soto don’t care about anything but money
Informed Sportsball Discussion
@Captainmike1
To be fair, Soto probably cares about having the chance to win too.
But with the Mets, he doesn’t have to choose. They look like a stronger horse than the Yankees right now, the only caveat being the AL does not currently have a rival for the Yankees to match the Dodgers in the NL for the Mets (with apologies to the Orioles).
But yeah. I think any romantic notions of Soto doing something heartwarming like going back to the Nats for a little less money will be quashed in efficient course.
Luis_Fazenda
You never know. For every group of guys that openly place their sole priority on winning when looking for a landing spot, you have a guy like Trout…who for some strange reason has decided to piss his career away in Anaheim for a team that has made the post-season exactly one time in the 13+ seasons he’s been there, and that was 10 years ago.
rct
“the Dodgers in the NL for the Mets”
Not to mention the Braves, Padres, and Phillies. Brewers and DBacks are very solid as well.
GarryHarris
I doubt Yankees will even blink if they miss out on Juan Soto. I think they need to oust Boone.
rct
“The Yankees are a historic franchise and the Mets are not.”
You can spin this in the opposite direction, though. Wouldn’t it give you automatic legend status if you brought a championship to Queens? The first one in almost 40 years?
Blackpink in the area
By that logic Ohtani should have signed with the Mariners. But he didn’t. And now he’s a Dodger legend….
rct
That’s not a good comparison at all. First, the Mets and Yankees are in same city. Second, the Mets are much closer to the Yankees contender-wise than the Mariners are to the Dodgers. Third, the Mariners did not offer Ohtani a contract.
So, no. That was not my “logic”. We’re talking Mets vs. Yankees, both of whom will offer Soto a similar mega deal, just went deep into the playoffs, and have owners willing to spend.
Blackpink in the area
You don’t know who offered Ohtani what.
Yankees are a world famous franchise. The Mets are not. They are second class in the minds of many.
Miken31
The reality is, historically speaking, the Mets have been a bigger draw when they were good and the Yankees were not. So you can say what you want, but the facts are the Mets have been the most popular team in New York during the times that they were the better team. It hasn’t happened in a long time, but the history is what it is.
metsin4
What does Soto care about what happened between 1920-1970s? He would prefer to make his own history.
Blackpink in the area
You asked him?
History matters. He didn’t grow up wanting to be a Met…..
all in the suit that you wear
I think Hal Steinbrenner would probably be happy to be slightly outbid by Cohen.
CravenMoorehead
I know Steve Cohen is probably still dissapointed after missing out on Yamamoto last free agency so he’s going into the Soto negotiations ready to throw around money like a Miami “yayo” kingpin from the 80s.
numberoneslayerfan
watch him give soto 1 billion, after taxes…
Captainmike1
As a Yankee fan I hope he goes to the Mets
all in the suit that you wear
I think I would be happy to avoid what this deal will likely be.
henrys
As a Nationals fan, I hope he goes to the Yankees.
gbs42
I’ll be forever amazed at fans not wanting their team to pay top dollar for a top-3 hitter, and the only one of them available this winter.
Captainmike1
Ohtani had a MUCH BETTER offensive year than Soto did
People are confused when they say Soto walks on water
OfficerCarlWinslow
At least Soto isn’t a degenerate gambler…
Astros_fan_in_Aus
Ridiculous comment
OfficerCarlWinslow
-Astros fan
-Lives in “Aus”
OPINION SWIFTLY DISCARDED
gbs42
Carl, you’re wrong. Read the FBI report m
YankeesBleacherCreature
Soto is almost 3.5 years YOUNGER than Ohtani and has slightly better offensive stats than ARod through age 25. ARod also played in a higher offensive environment than today’s game. Ohtani is in his own league.
James Midway
Soto may actually be older than Ohtani.
gbs42
James, any evidence to back up your ridiculous claim?
Yankee Clipper
Not sure I agree with MUCH better. Better, yes, but not by much. If you include the postseason Soto batted better than Ohtani by the numbers this year.
Likewise, Judge was the best hitter in baseball.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Soto: .281/.389/.538, 160 AB
Ohtani: .230/.373/.393, 61 AB
30 Parks
It’s going to be a Tom Hicks move from Cohen – overpay in the range of $600M over twelve.
Astros_fan_in_Aus
“He’s among the game’s very best players”
Correction
“He’s among the game’s very best hitters”
GarryHarris
“Juan Soto willing to move to 2B…”
whyhayzee
Well, it’s just shallow right field.
fred-3
Good luck for National League teams going forward not named the Dodgers, Mets, or Braves. It’s gonna be like the Cowboys, 49ers, Packers in the NFC in the 1990s.
Yankee Clipper
If the Yankees try to replace Soto’s production, even with multiple top-end players, it will fail. Cashman & Co are not capable of doing that type of roster construction despite what they tell everyone in the media. The only time Cashman was able to compensate for his poor roster building, he spent $300MM in the 2008 offseason, a la the LA Dodgers.
Heck, Cashman can’t even admit their weaknesses, which the Dodgers scouted ahead of time, and dismissed them as a “bad series.” Interesting, I didn’t know you could scout a team’s bad series ahead of time.
CravenMoorehead
Bad managing, poor basics (like fielding…see game 5), Judge once again disappearing in the postseason, ect…they were just a tire fire in that series. Was almost like they didn’t want to win. Looking back the Yankees game 4 win almost seems lucky (because it was).
dasit
how any yankee fan could root for soto to walk is beyond me. yes soto is a below average fielder so let’s spend less money to watch santander make soto look like clemente while striking out 160 times. spreading out the money is the free agent version of a bullpen game. there’s a big chance one of those pitchers/signings is going to be awful
YankeesBleacherCreature
It’s really wild to me when these fans gripe about player salaries. If Soto leaves, it’s not like the Yankees are suddenly going to lower YES, MLB.tv, ticket, concession, and merch costs for fans.
markbrunell
soto has career #s at citifield
if cohen gives him 600mil/13 yrs
its a done deal
lfg stevie
bring him to queens
MichaelMantle
Citifield is a larger ballpark. Rightfield is small at Yankee Stadium. I feel Soto defensively will have problems at Citi
Kevin Michael Farrell
“The Mets have been expected to line up as one of Juan Soto’s primary suitors all winter
Winter doesn’t even start for another month and a half!
Skell 2
According to my Dominican age calculations, Soto is 29 years old.
gbs42
Skell, please provide a shred of evidence.
heinie manush
Short porch Yankee Stadium has a magnetic attraction for LH power hitters.
Currently at 201 HR, 10 years in YS should yield another 400+ and still only 36 years old. HOF path assured.
bcjd
12 years, $565mm.
$50mm per year for five years, with an opt-out at 4 and/or 5.
$45mm per year for years 6-12.
Team options for bargain rates on years 13 and 14.
SportsFan0000
Waiting for Scott Boros’s “mystery, unidentified bidder(s)” to emerge lmfao!